Spring-tug for harness.



l I I l l l l l I l Il PATBNTED SEPT. 17, 1 907.-

m U m, vd x\ -------l @Y J. MITCHELL. SRRING TUG FOR HARNESS. APPLICATION FILED nu e. 1907.

I' Jamai /Z'/zl D l Gramm,

JAMES MITCHELL, OF BONILLA, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SPRING-TUG FOR HARNESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed May 9,1907. Serial No. 372,662.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bonilla, in the county of Beadle and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Tugs for Harness, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harness tugs, and it has for its objects to provide a spring tug of simple and improved construction whereby the strain upon the neck and shoulders of the drait animal will be relieved.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the4 invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side view of the improved spring tug. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the side flaps of the tug unlaced and unfolded. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail side view of a portion of the tug with parts broken away to expose the interior construction.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of references.

The yimproved tug comprises in its construction a plurality of layers of leather or other suitable material including a top layer I, a bottom layer 2 and an intermediate layer 3, which latter is provided with laterally extending side portions forming flanges or iiaps 4-4. The several layers are securely connected together by means preferably including rivets 5 which also serve to secure in position adjacent to the top layer l, a casing O composed of longitudinally grooved or channeled bottom plates 6 and 7 provided with laterally extending wings or flanges 8-9 ier the passage of the rivet or fastening members 5. The wings 8 of the top Aplate 6 are preferably provided along the edges thereof with downturned flanges l0 disposed adjacent to and protecting the edges of the wings 9 of the bottom plate 7.

Disposed within the casing C, and projecting at one end thereof, is a tug rod or stem ll upon which is coiled a spring l2, the ends of which abut upon shoulders 13-14 formed respectively upon the inner or rear end of the rod ll and at the iront end of the casing, the tension of the spring being exerted to maintain the rod within the casing, "he projecting end of the rod Il is provided with an eye l5 whereby it may be connected with the haines or with some other suitable part of the harness; the opposite end of the tug having a loop I6 connected therewith for a like purpose.

The wings or lflaps 4-4 of the intermediate layer 3 of the tug are brought together over the casing O, and said flaps, which are provided with apertures or eyelets I7 are securely laced together by means of a thong 18 as will be clearly seen in Fig, l.

The operation and` advantages of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The

improved tugs are preferably used to connect the traces with the haines; but they may be interposed between the traces and the whiflletrees, or used in any other desired location. When draft is exerted, the stem or rod ll will be projected from the casing against the tension of the spring l2, thus relieving sudden strain upon the neck and shoulders of the animal.

`layers of material including an intermediate layer having laterally extending aps, a casing secured adjacent to the top layer and comprising longitudinally channeled plates having laterally extending wings, the Wings of one of said plates being provided with flanges disposed adjacent to the side edges of the wings of the other plate, fastening members extending through the layers of material and through the wings of the casing plates, means for connecting the free edges of the flaps which are brought together' to include `the casing, and a spring actuated draft member contained in the latter.

In testimony whereof, I aflix lny signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

J. M. CHAMnEns, F. W. JAMES. 

